US5600869A - Sunvisor hinge for automobiles - Google Patents

Sunvisor hinge for automobiles Download PDF

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Publication number
US5600869A
US5600869A US08/491,885 US49188595A US5600869A US 5600869 A US5600869 A US 5600869A US 49188595 A US49188595 A US 49188595A US 5600869 A US5600869 A US 5600869A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
sunvisor
reinforcing rod
linking body
metal
rod
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US08/491,885
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English (en)
Inventor
Jose A. Munoz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fico ITM SA
Original Assignee
Fico ITM SA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fico ITM SA filed Critical Fico ITM SA
Assigned to FICO I.T.M., S.A. reassignment FICO I.T.M., S.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AYMERICH, JOSE
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Publication of US5600869A publication Critical patent/US5600869A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
    • B60J3/00—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles
    • B60J3/02—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles adjustable in position
    • B60J3/0204—Sun visors
    • B60J3/0213—Sun visors characterised by the mounting means
    • B60J3/0265—Attachments of sun visors to mounting means including details of sun visor bearing member regulating the rotational friction on the support arm
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
    • B60J3/00—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles
    • B60J3/02—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles adjustable in position
    • B60J3/0204—Sun visors
    • B60J3/0278—Sun visors structure of the body

Definitions

  • the present invention is related to a hinge for sunvisors for automobiles which, specifically, is for application in connection with sunvisors based on a body obtained by the injection-moulding of a material of low specific gravity, such as polyurethane.
  • the body includes a reinforcing frame consisting of a metal rod whose shape matches the shape of the visor body.
  • sunvisors such as those described above and normally fitted as standard equipment in automobiles, have a hinge which enables the user to set the sunvisor to any of its usual positions for use in a stable way.
  • the hinge consists basically of a bent supporting pivot attached to the vehicle's structure by means of a base member fitted to it, and of a retaining spring set inside a linking body, made generally in plastic materials, which is included in the body of the visor and firmly joined to the metal reinforcing rod.
  • the retaining spring is sized to receive snugly the horizontal arm of the supporting pivot in such a way that the visor may be rotated around that pivot.
  • both the spring and the horizontal arm of the supporting pivot possess complementary means for positioning them with respect to each other ensuring greater retaining strength in the rest position(s) of the visor, i.e. moving the visor away from those positions requires the user to exert a turning torque whose value is significantly higher than that required when the visor is not occupying its rest position(s).
  • Spanish utility model number U 8902208 may be quoted. It describes a linking body with an essentially quadrangular prismatic shape providing a housing for fitting a retaining spring and, around its edge, a recess such as to house a metal reinforcing rod shaped with a double bend, to prevent the linking body from changing its position once the linking body has been attached to the rod.
  • linking bodies for sunvisor hinges such as that described above all suffer, wholly or partly, from the following drawbacks.
  • Their use requires the metal reinforcing rod to have a closed perimeter, ie. that the ends of the metal rod be joined together, generally by welding.
  • the linking bodies are sizeable items as a result of having to withstand the high stresses to which they are subjected when the visor is positioned by the user, said size constituting a clear limitation on performance.
  • a sunvisor hinge which solves the above-mentioned drawbacks --i.e. one not requiring the welding of the ends of the visor's metal reinforcing rod and not being large in size --a sunvisor hinge with a new structure for automobiles is disclosed.
  • the sunvisor hinge of the invention comprises the following known elements.
  • a one-piece linking body made preferably in plastic materials, having means for its firm attachment to the metal reinforcing rod of the sunvisor body, and with a housing for snugly receiving a retaining spring.
  • a bent supporting pivot of whose two arms, vertical and horizontal, the vertical one is attachable to a base member fitted to the structure of the vehicle, and the horizontal one, or pivot of rotation for the sunvisor, is snugly attachable to the retaining spring housed in the linking body in such a way that the sunvisor may be rotated around the horizontal arm of the supporting pivot.
  • the sunvisor hinge of this invention is characterized in that the essential shape of the linking body is an elongated parallelepipedon in which two adjoining hollow longitudinal sections, one in front and one behind, are present, of similar size, separated by the wall between them.
  • the front section which houses the retaining spring, is open at its free end and possesses means for snugly receiving both the free ends of the metal reinforcing rod, in such a way that said ends, aligned longitudinally, are left facing each other; means for fixing the position of the retaining spring; and means for fixing the position of an L-shaped end of the metal reinforcing rod.
  • the rear section of the linking body has one of its side faces open, and possesses means of fixing the position of the other U-shaped end of the metal reinforcing rod.
  • the means for snugly receiving the two free ends of the metal reinforcing rod have a tubular extension which, arising in the interior wall, comes out in the rear section and extends until it reaches the open end of the front section.
  • the means which fix the position of the retaining spring possess, on the upper face of the linking body, a longitudinal rib, and in the tubular extension, two diametrically arranged radial ribs and a tangential extension which run all along its length; these ribs and tangential extension are sized in such a way that, when the retaining spring is housed in the front section, they prevent the spring from being moved away from the position taken up.
  • the means which fix the position of the relevant end of the metal rod have an orthogonal extension of relatively short length set in the open end of the front section, and this extension has a slot running all along its length with retaining projections for gripping, through successive elastic deformations of the side walls of said longitudinal extension, a section of the metal reinforcing rod.
  • the means which fix the position of the other end of the metal reinforcing rod comprise, on the front face, which is the one opposite the front section, a through-slot arranged centrally and in parallel to the open side face, and in the lower face, which is the face forming a dihedron with said front face and open side, a recessed housing, basically U-shaped, in which retaining projections are arranged, preferably three in number, two on the sides and one in the middle.
  • the through-slot and the recessed housing are sized in such a way that the relevant end of the metal rod, which has a U shape similar to the shape of the recessed housing, may be passed inside the rear section through the through-slot, and its free end be inserted into the tubular extension of the front section, in such a way that the metal rod may be rotated around the axis defined by the tubular extension and be firmly fitted in said recessed housing after elastic deformations of the retaining projections.
  • the central retaining projection when coupling the U-shaped end of the metal rod with the linking body, the central retaining projection is elastically deformed by means of a tool designed for the purpose, in such a way that, during said rotation of the metal rod, the rod elastically deforms the other two retaining projections on the side and, when the U-shaped section of the metal rod is inside the recessed housing, the central projection elastically reassumes its initial position on ceasing to apply the tool.
  • this tool arrangement for the elastic deformation of the central retaining projection does not affect the function assigned to the side retaining projections.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a sunvisor hinge incorporating the hinge of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of the linking body of the hinge of this invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a front view of the linking body of the hinge of this invention.
  • FIG. 4 is another side view of the linking body of the hinge of this invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a view of section V--V shown in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 6 is a view of section VI--VI shown in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 7 is a view of section VII--VII shown in FIG. 5.
  • FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are respective views showing successive stages in the coupling of the two ends of the metal reinforcing rod of the sunvisor and the linking body of the hinge of this invention.
  • the sunvisor hinge for automobiles of this invention which is described as an example of embodiment, is applicable, as shown in FIG. 1, to sunvisors.
  • a sunvisor housing visor body 1 generally made by injection-moulding polyurethane, which incorporates the metal rod 2, of circular section, that acts as a structural reinforcing part and which, as shown in FIG. 1, has a shape which is very similar to that of the body 1.
  • the sunvisor shown in FIG. 1 also has a hanging bridge 3 and a mirror 4, known as a "vanity mirror".
  • the hinge of this invention comprises the linking body 5, in which the retaining spring 6 is housed, as shown schematically by dotted lines in FIG. 11, and the supporting pivot 7 shown in FIG. 1.
  • the linking body 5 and the supporting pivot 7, respectively, are made preferably of plastic materials of suitable mechanical properties, and the retaining spring 6 is made preferably of very flexible metal sheet.
  • FIG. 1 shows how the supporting pivot 7 has a bent shape. Its vertical arm 8 may be attached to a base member on the vehicle structure, this not being shown in the drawings. Its horizontal arm 9, which is shown schematically in FIG.
  • hinges for sunvisors based on a visor body produced by the injection moulding of a light material are well known and customarily used for many known embodiments of hinges for sunvisors based on a visor body produced by the injection moulding of a light material.
  • FIGS. 5, 6 and 8 show how the front section 10 includes the tubular extension 14 which, arising in the inner wall 12, extends to reach the open end of section 10.
  • This tubular section 14, which comes out in the rear section 11, is sized, as shown in FIG. 11 by dotted lines, snugly to receive both the free ends 15 and 16 of the metal reinforcing rod 2, in such a way that both the free ends, 15 and 16, are lined up longitudinally together.
  • the position occupied by the retaining spring 6 in the front section 10 is set by the longitudinal rib 17 lying along the upper face s of the linking body 5, and by the two diametrically opposed radial ribs 18, and by the tangential extension 19 of the tubular extension 14, as shown in the section view given in FIG. 6, and by dotted lines in FIG. 11.
  • FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 11 show how, at the open end of the front section 10, there is an orthogonal extension 20 with a reinforcement 21 acting as a supporting bracket, which runs for a relatively short length.
  • Extension 20 has, on its exterior face as shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the U-shaped longitudinal slot 22 in which the two retaining projections 23 are arranged opposite each other.
  • This longitudinal slot 22 is sized to grip the section of the metal reinforcing rod 2 near its free end 15, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 11.
  • FIGS. 2, 7 and 11 show how the rear section 11 of the linking body 5 has one of its side faces l open, like a window, and its front face f, which is the face opposite the front section 10, bears the central through-slot 24 which, as shown in FIG. 3, is set in parallel with respect to the open side face l.
  • This through-slot 24 is sized in such a way that, as shown in FIG. 9, the metal reinforcing rod 2 can go through it.
  • the lower end of the central slot 24 is aligned longitudinally with the hole of the tubular extension 14 of the front section 10, in such a way that a rotational axis is defined, as shown in FIG. 9.
  • FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 11 show how the lower face i of the linking body 5, which is the face that forms a dihedron with the front face f and the open side face l, forms a recessed and basically U-shaped housing 25. Reinforcing ribs 26 shown in FIG. 4 give it high mechanical resistance to deformation.
  • FIGS. 2 and 11 show how the lower face i has two identical retaining side projections 27.
  • FIG. 7 Shows in cross-section how the side wall 1', which is the one opposite the open side wall 1, has the central retaining projection 28.
  • the retaining projections 27 and 28 fix the section of the metal reinforcing rod 2 fitted in the recessed housing 25 formed by the lower face i as shown in FIG. 11.
  • the coupling of the linking body 5 of the sunvisor hinge of this invention to the metal reinforcing rod 2 of the body 1 of the visor requires, firstly, that the retaining spring 6 be housed in the front section 10 of the linking body 5. Its position is set by the action of the longitudinal rib 17 and the tubular extension 14 by means of its two radial ribs 18 and the tangential extension 19. Secondly the sections of the metal rod 2 near its free ends 15 and 16 are arranged as shown in FIG. 11. The section near the free end 16, which is attachable to the lower section 10 of the linking body 5, is L-shaped, and the section near the free end 15, which is attachable to the rear section 11 of the linking body 5, is U-shaped.
  • the coupling of the linking body 5 with the metal rod 2 is performed as follows: firstly, the free end 15 is inserted into the tubular extension 14 of the front section 10 through the through-slot 24 of the front face f of the rear section 11, in such a way that the U-shaped section of the metal rod 2 is arranged in the front section 11 as shown in FIG. 9. Then next, the metal rod 2 is turned around its turning axis formed by the tubular extension 14 and the lower end of the through-slot 24.
  • the free end 16 of the metal rod 2 is inserted in the tubular extension 14 of the front section 10 and, simultaneously, the straight section of the other end of rod 2 is pressed into the longitudinal slot 22 of the orthogonal extension 20, in such a way that the retaining projections 23 arranged on said slot 22 prevent this end of the rod 2 from coming away from the linking body 5.
  • the visor body 1 may then be injected, and subsequently the horizontal arm 9 of the supporting pivot 7 may be fitted in the longitudinal housing 13, as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the elastic deformation of the central retaining projection 27 is performed with the assistance of the tool u provided for the purpose and shown schematically by dotted lines in FIG. 10.
  • the tool u provided for the purpose and shown schematically by dotted lines in FIG. 10.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
  • Hinges (AREA)
US08/491,885 1993-11-25 1994-11-18 Sunvisor hinge for automobiles Expired - Fee Related US5600869A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES9302475 1993-11-25
ES09302475A ES2068785B1 (es) 1993-11-25 1993-11-25 Bisagra para viseras parasol de vehiculos automoviles.
PCT/ES1994/000121 WO1995014586A1 (es) 1993-11-25 1994-11-18 Bisagra para viseras parasol de vehiculos automoviles

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5600869A true US5600869A (en) 1997-02-11

Family

ID=8283737

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08/491,885 Expired - Fee Related US5600869A (en) 1993-11-25 1994-11-18 Sunvisor hinge for automobiles

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US5600869A (de)
EP (1) EP0680841B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH08506304A (de)
AU (1) AU8145194A (de)
CA (1) CA2153045A1 (de)
DE (1) DE69410989T2 (de)
ES (2) ES2068785B1 (de)
WO (1) WO1995014586A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6007135A (en) * 1997-06-27 1999-12-28 Rosen Product Development, Inc. Sun visor monorail system with locking carriage assembly
US6131986A (en) * 1997-09-18 2000-10-17 Rosen Products Llc Sun visor assembly with finger-operable pivot lock

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5424934B2 (ja) * 2010-02-24 2014-02-26 河西工業株式会社 車両用サンバイザ

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4428612A (en) * 1981-02-04 1984-01-31 Gebr. Happich Gmbh Swivel mount for a vehicle sun-visor
US4469367A (en) * 1982-03-27 1984-09-04 Gebr. Happich Gmbh Support for sun visors
US4854629A (en) * 1986-10-06 1989-08-08 Autopart Sweden Ab Sun visor for motor vehicles and process for its manufacture
US5011211A (en) * 1988-04-29 1991-04-30 Autopart Sweden Ab Sun visor for motor vehicles
US5039153A (en) * 1989-08-28 1991-08-13 Prince Corporation Pivot down vanity mirror assembly
US5366265A (en) * 1992-01-15 1994-11-22 Fico I.I.M.,S.A. Spring hinge for automobile sunvisors

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2227834C3 (de) * 1972-06-08 1975-10-30 Gebr. Happich Gmbh, 5600 Wuppertal Sonnenblende, insbesondere für Fahrzeuge
DE2443307C3 (de) * 1974-09-10 1978-11-02 Gebr. Happich Gmbh, 5600 Wuppertal Sonnenblende, insbesondere für Fahrzeuge
FR2376766A1 (fr) * 1977-01-06 1978-08-04 Maglum Sa Support de pare-soleil
FR2450709A1 (fr) * 1979-03-09 1980-10-03 Maglum Sa Dispositif permettant le blocage d'un pare-soleil dans une position predeterminee
DE3440976A1 (de) * 1984-11-09 1986-05-15 Gebr. Happich Gmbh, 5600 Wuppertal Sonnenblende fuer fahrzeuge
ES1010978Y (es) * 1989-07-03 1990-08-16 Gabas Cebollero Carlos Bisagra para viseras parasol de vehiculos automoviles.

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4428612A (en) * 1981-02-04 1984-01-31 Gebr. Happich Gmbh Swivel mount for a vehicle sun-visor
US4469367A (en) * 1982-03-27 1984-09-04 Gebr. Happich Gmbh Support for sun visors
US4854629A (en) * 1986-10-06 1989-08-08 Autopart Sweden Ab Sun visor for motor vehicles and process for its manufacture
US5011211A (en) * 1988-04-29 1991-04-30 Autopart Sweden Ab Sun visor for motor vehicles
US5039153A (en) * 1989-08-28 1991-08-13 Prince Corporation Pivot down vanity mirror assembly
US5366265A (en) * 1992-01-15 1994-11-22 Fico I.I.M.,S.A. Spring hinge for automobile sunvisors

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6007135A (en) * 1997-06-27 1999-12-28 Rosen Product Development, Inc. Sun visor monorail system with locking carriage assembly
US6131986A (en) * 1997-09-18 2000-10-17 Rosen Products Llc Sun visor assembly with finger-operable pivot lock

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2119361T3 (es) 1998-10-01
WO1995014586A1 (es) 1995-06-01
ES2068785R (de) 1997-11-01
EP0680841A1 (de) 1995-11-08
AU8145194A (en) 1995-06-13
JPH08506304A (ja) 1996-07-09
ES2068785A2 (es) 1995-04-16
CA2153045A1 (en) 1995-06-01
ES2068785B1 (es) 1998-05-01
DE69410989D1 (de) 1998-07-16
DE69410989T2 (de) 1998-11-05
EP0680841B1 (de) 1998-06-10

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Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: FICO I.T.M., S.A., SPAIN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AYMERICH, JOSE;REEL/FRAME:007704/0903

Effective date: 19950605

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20010211

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362